In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together.
Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.
Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.
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Aufgaben
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Manage strategic international purchasing with a main focus on mechanical components for series production
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Ensure uninterrupted global supply for your assigned product groups and drive sustainable cost and condition improvements
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Develop and manage suppliers, including performance reviews, risk and escalation management and long‑term supplier development
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Lead and execute complex contract negotiations (purchase, delivery and service contracts) and actively contribute to contract drafting and optimization
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Lead cross-functional and international teams (e.g. task forces, project teams across sites) to resolve supply issues and implement preventive measures
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Contribute to and implement category strategies and translate them into concrete projects and actions
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Analyze prices, cost structures, delivery performance and risks and derive specific optimization measures
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Prepare and present decision papers and status reports for Procurement Management and steering committees – including regular participation in management boards
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Represent ZEISS in meetings and negotiations with suppliers, including national and international business trips
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Work with SAP MM, MS Excel and reporting tools, maintain relevant master data where required and support KPI reporting and process optimization
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Support and mentor trainees, students and apprentices in the procurement area and contribute to a strong, collaborative team culture
Profil
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A completed 4‑year university degree (e.g. master's degree in business administration, industrial engineering, logistics, commerce or a comparable field)
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5+ years of professional experience in strategic purchasing across at least different product groups, ideally in a technologically sophisticated and/or regulated environment (e.g. medical devices, automotive, aerospace, high‑tech manufacturing)
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A distinct strategic mindset and proven experience in strategy development and implementation in procurement or category management
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Demonstrated leadership experience, for example in leading task forces or smaller international, cross‑site project teams
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Proven negotiation strength and assertiveness, with a strong track record in demanding, international purchasing and contract negotiations
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Extensive experience in supplier management, escalation management, contract negotiations and contract drafting
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Business fluent English skills and very good German skills (min. C level), enabling confident communication and presentations at management level
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Strong IT skills: in particular SAP MM, very good Excel skills and solid experience with reporting tools
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A pronounced technical interest and the ability to understand mechanical products and production contexts beyond pure commercial aspects
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Excellent communication skills, team orientation and the ability to build trustful relationships with internal and external stakeholders
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High stress resilience, a positive mindset, humor, as well as initiative, creativity and strong prioritization and time‑management skills
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Willingness to travel up to globally and to work predominantly on-site in Oberkochen (with regular visits to Jena)
Wir bieten
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